As a personal injury lawyer in South Carolina , I was encouraged to hear the recent reports that car accident fatalities caused by drunk driving are on a decline. The state has been hard at work with increased efforts made by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies to crack down on drunk drivers. Their efforts have been bolstered by support from the state to add extra patrols specifically targeting drunk drivers. When you pair all that with educational programs and ad campaigns, we have a winning combo.
According to this article which highlights the findings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol related traffic fatalities dropped from 400 to 377 from 2008 to 2009. In addition, overall traffic related deaths, not just alcohol related ones, have also declined from 921 to 894. So far, the statistics for 2010 are on track to have even less fatalities.
But before we get too excited, it’s important to know that South Carolina is still third in the nation for alcohol-related car accident deaths. The Director of Public Safety said, “Too many people are still getting killed on our roadways.” As a South Carolina personal injury lawyer , I couldn’t agree more. Kudos to all the people working to eliminate these fatal accidents, but their job is far from over. Next time you’re out drinking, bring a designated driver along or take a taxi home.